Ipswich

Ipswich's population expanded between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in religion, health and housing tenure.

The population passed 130,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Ipswich increased by 14%, from just over 117,000 to 133,000.

The addition of about 16,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Ipswich was home to, on average, 24 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Ipswich

Latest census data also show that the median age of Ipswich remained 36 years in the decade to 2011.

This multi-cultural area had a lower average age than Eastof England and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 4,500 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by just under 500.

About 15% of people in Ipswich are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Ipswich by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Ipswich

The number of people in Ipswich that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 24,000 in 2001 to about 47,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 20% to 35% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Ipswich that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 80,000 in 2001 to about 71,000 in 2011 (from 68% to 53%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just under 11,000 to just over 9,600 (from 9.1% to 7.2%).

About 3,600 people (1.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 1,500 in 2001 (2.7%).

The population without a religion in Ipswich increased by 15 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Ipswich by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Ipswich, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.5% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 32%, while the percentage of households in Ipswich which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 34% to 31%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Ipswich increased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Ipswich, Eastof England and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

Ipswich saw Eastof England's third-largest fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

In 2011, just over 1 in 20 (5.1%) in Ipswich said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 8.7% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 68% to 81%.

Across the region, only Norwich (from 9.8% to 5.7%) and Great Yarmouth (from 11% to 7.1%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 7.6% to 4.7%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Ipswich decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Ipswich, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Ipswich that rented privately increased from 11% to 20% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 22%, while the percentage of Ipswich households that owned their home decreased from 65% to 57%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Ipswich increased by 9.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Ipswich, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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